Jeremiah 27:9
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse isn't just listing different types of fortune-tellers; it's highlighting the sheer variety of deceptive voices trying to lead people astray. Jeremiah’s point is that all these sources, whether they claim divine dreams, secret arts, or even the title of "prophet," are ultimately peddling the same dangerous falsehood: resistance to Babylon.
Jeremiah is addressing a coalition of nations, including Judah, who are being pressured to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. These nations are relying on the deceptive pronouncements of their own prophets and diviners who falsely assure them they will not be conquered. Jeremiah's message directly contradicts these comforting lies, warning them that resistance will only bring harsher judgment.
Jeremiah lists an almost overwhelming number of false counselors. Why so many descriptions, and what does this tell us about their message?
Jeremiah doesn't just say "don't listen to the false prophets." He paints a vivid picture of them using a whole arsenal of deceptive titles: "prophets, diviners, dreamers, enchanters, sorcerers." This isn't just about different job titles; it highlights the variety of ways people try to get divine-sounding messages without true divine authority.
They all had one thing in common: they offered soothing lies that contradicted God's clear, difficult message of submission to Babylon. Their goal was to give people a false sense of security, just like today when people offer easy answers that ignore the hard realities of obedience to God.
These false counselors all said the same thing: "You shall not serve the king of Babylon." What made this message so appealing, and why was it so destructive?
The core message of these false prophets was a seductive lie: resistance was possible and would lead to freedom. They played on the people's pride and their desire to avoid the harsh reality of defeat and exile.
Understand the original words
nabi · Hebrew Noun
One who claims to speak on behalf of the divine; in a biblical sense, a true prophet is God's spokesperson, while false prophets speak out of their own heart or deceive the people.
qesem · Hebrew Noun
Practitioners of occult or forbidden methods—such as divination, sorcery, or seeking hidden knowledge—which are strictly condemned in Scripture as an attempt to bypass God's authority.
Jeremiah's message in this chapter confronts a desperate situation. Judah has already experienced multiple deportations and is now facing the brutal reality of Babylonian dominion. The false prophets are offering dangerous hope, urging rebellion when submission is the only path to survival, even if that survival means exile.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, crown prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and captures Jerusalem. He deports some of the Judean nobility, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's elite, including King Jehoiachin, replacing him with Zedekiah. This event significantly weakens Judah.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, leading Nebuchadnezzar to lay siege to Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the end for the Southern Kingdom.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The Temple is destroyed, and the majority of the remaining population is deported to Babylon, leaving only a remnant.
This passage shows Jeremiah confronting the same kind of false prophets who are also claiming to speak for God, but their messages are lies and self-serving dreams, much like the ones Jeremiah condemns in chapter 27.
1 Kings 22:1-23This narrative parallels Jeremiah's situation, where King Ahab is surrounded by 400 false prophets who all prophesy success, while the true prophet Micaiah is ignored, highlighting the danger of listening to flattering but deceitful messages.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22This passage from the Law provides the criteria for distinguishing true prophets from false ones – a false prophecy that does not come true marks the speaker as not sent by God, underscoring why Jeremiah's audience should reject these other voices.
Ezekiel 13:1-10Ezekiel also denounces prophets who 'follow their own spirit' and prophesy peace when there is no peace, echoing Jeremiah's warning against those who speak deceptive visions and lies, rather than God's truth.
Galatians 1:6-9Paul warns against 'another gospel' that is not from God, which is conceptually similar to Jeremiah warning his people not to listen to prophets who twist or deny the message God has given, even if their words sound appealing.
barnesJeremiah 27:9: "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:"
Dreamers - literally, as in the margin. People dream dreams for themselves, and go to diviners to ask the explanation of them.
calvinJeremiah 27:9: "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:"
Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
Et vos ne audiatis prophetas vestros, et divinos vestros, et somnia…
The verse isn't just listing different types of fortune-tellers; it's highlighting the sheer variety of deceptive voices trying to lead people astray. Jeremiah’s point is that all these sources, whether they claim divine dreams, secret arts, or even the title of "prophet," are ultimately peddling the same dangerous falsehood: resistance to Babylon.
Jeremiah is addressing a coalition of nations, including Judah, who are being pressured to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. These nations are relying on the deceptive pronouncements of their own prophets and diviners who falsely assure them they will not be conquered. Jeremiah's message directly contradicts these comforting lies, warning them that resistance will only bring harsher judgment.
Jeremiah is addressing a coalition of nations, including Judah, who are being pressured to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. These nations are relying on the deceptive pronouncements of their own prophets and diviners who falsely assure them they will not be conquered. Jeremiah's message directly contradicts these comforting lies, warning them that resistance will only bring harsher judgment.
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c. 585 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of the remnant in Judah, is assassinated. This leads to further instability and a flight of Judeans to Egypt.
"So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’" — The verse isn't just listing different types of fortune-tellers; it's highlighting the sheer variety of deceptive voices trying to lead people astray. Jeremiah’s point is that all these sources, wh…
